Persian Language at Indiana University

Persian Language, Lingua Franca of Eastern Cultures

Long before French or English, Persian was the international language. Kings, poets, mystics, and diplomats conversed in Persian from Turkey to India to China. Further back in history, Persia was the great rival of the Roman Empire. Caravans crossed the Persian Empire while traveling the Silk Road from Rome to the Far East.

Cradle of the Zoroastrian and Manichaean religions, Persian has been second only to Arabic as the fountain of Islamic culture. Spiritual readers in America and the world over treasure the poems of Rumi, the great mystical poet of the Sufi tradition.

Architecture, music, novels, painting: Persian language is the key to the beauties of medieval Persian culture – and a vibrant modern culture as well.

Iran and Afghanistan in the News – Get the Real Story Behind the Front Pages!

Every day, there’s news from Iran or Afghanistan on TV, radio, newspapers, and the web. To really understand events that are shaping the world today, learn Persian: the official language of Iran and Afghanistan.

Iranian film makers are pushing the boundaries with some of the most exciting movies in modern times. The challenging ideas of Iran’s modern intellectuals have been shaping reform and revolution throughout the whole Muslim and developing world.

Learning Persian: Gateway to the Middle East and an International Career!

Modern Persian (also called Farsi) is spoken by almost 100 million speakers not just in Iran, but also Afghanistan and Central Asia. A member of the Indo-European family of languages (like English), Persian is the easiest Middle Eastern language for English speakers to learn. Knowledge of Persian will help you learn Turkic, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, and other languages and pursue a variety of exciting careers in government, international business, or education.

Iranian or Afghan heritage? Learn Persian and reconnect with your family roots!

Fulfill your foreign language requirement in a small class with dedicated teachers. And take just two more literature or culture class and you can obtain a minor in Iranian studies from the Department of Central Eurasian Studies—a real plus for your resume. Go to our website to find out more about Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced Persian classes.

More questions? Look through the web pages on the side-bar or contact us at Goodbody 157, 855-2233, or ceusug@indiana.edu.